Apparatus for spraying plants

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for spraying plants having a liquid reservoir, suction tube and fixed overflow.

United States Patent Fischer 1 July 31, 1973 I 1 APPARATUS FOR SPRAYINGPLANTS [76] inventor: Adoli Fischer, 43 Speyerer Strasse,

Mutterstadt, Germany [22] Filed: Oct. 27, 1971 [21] Appl. No.2 193,116

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 4, 1970 Germany P 20 54222.7

[52] US. Cl 239/318, 47/485, 239/346 [51] int. Cl. A62c 5/02 [58] Field01 Search 239/143, 318, 346,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,119,562 i/1964 Tyler239/318 3,669,357 6/1972 Overbey 239/318 X 3,623,910 1i/i971 Calhoun eta1. 134/186 X 3,550,854 12/1970 Fischer 239/143 X 3,168,797 2/1965Patassy l 47/38 2,928,211 3/1960 Martin 47/l.2 3,616,560 11/1971 Mun47/].2 3,680,784 8/1972 Fakes 239/126 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS142,033 8/1930 Switzerland 239/318 Primary Examinen-M. Henson Wood, .lr.Assistant Examiner-Michael Mar Attorney-Johnston et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for spraying plants having a liquid reservoir,suction tubc and fixed overflow.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures sum 1 or 3 PATENTEDJULSI I975 FIG. 2

FIG.|

minimum ma 3749319 SHEET 3 (IF 3 APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING PLANTS Thepresent invention relates to an apparatus for spraying plants, in whichthe spray liquor is sucked in a predetermined amount from a reservoirand sprayed by means of air.

When using plant protection agents in the form of spray liquids, it isnecessary to wet the plants uniformly with the spray liquor. This is ofparticular importance when testing new plant protection agents, asresults may be inaccurate as a consequence of non-uniform treatment.Wetting is expediently carried out by spraying the plants with the spraymixture.

Numerous apparatuses are known for spraying plants, e. g., glassatomizers, spray guns or cabinets or equipment with superatmospheric orsubatmospheric spray systems, where the spray liquid is sucked up in apredetermined amount and atomized by means of an air stream. Thedisadvantage of all these apparatuses, however, is that it takesconsiderable time to spray a large number of plants and even longer toclean the equipment or nozzles when the spray liquor is changed. Afurther disadvantage is that when the spray mixture is changed thereexists a danger that active ingredient may be carried over, thusfalsifying the results. The known apparatuses are thereforeunsatisfactory.

The numbers in brackets in the following relate to the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly in cross-section, of

a first embodiment of a liquid reservoir with a single,

height adjustable suction tube.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of an injector nozzle used therewith;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, partly in cross-section, of a secondembodiment of a liquid reservoir with three suction tubes, together withelectromagnetic valves for the suction tubes; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of a cabinet for plants with the spray device ofFIG. 1 in use therewith.

We have now found that an apparatus for spraying plants, in particular alarge number of plants, in a short period of time and with manydifferent active ingredients, the spray liquor being sucked up in apredetermined amount and atomized by means of an air stream, does nothave the above disadvantages when it is equipped with a liquid reservoir1 having one or more suction tubes 2 to 4 whose height is adjustable anda fixed overflow 5. Reservoir 1 may be of anymaterial, e. g., plastics,for instance polystyrene, polyacrylic compounds or polyethylene. Thereservoir is preferably of glass. The level of the spray liquor in thereservoir 1 is determined by an overflow 5.

The spray liquor is filled into the reservoir until excess liquorescapes via the overflow.

The amount of spray liquor to be used for each spraying operation isdetermined by adjusting the immersion depth of the ends of the suctiontubes 2 to 4. The depths of the various tubes may, for example, be fixedor altered mechanically by means of a rack-and-pinion drive 13.

The apparatus according to the invention is advantageously provided withlines 6 to 9 for the supply and withdrawal of flushing agent, in orderto flush the apparatus as effectively and quickly as possible betweenliquor changes. After having been cleaned, the reservoir can besubstantially dried by passing in air, preferably hot air.

The spray mixtures used in practice are frequently dispersions of solidsof fine particle size in a liquid. Sediment is often formed on standing,and it is therefore advisable to stir the spray liquor in the reservoirbetween spraying operations. The reservoir is therefore advantageouslyequipped with air-injection stirring means 7. To simplify the wholespraying procedure, the stirring means may be switched automatically onupon completion of spraying and off on recommencement of spraying.

To facilitate rapid and complete cleaning of the reservoir, an arm 7 offlushing agent supply line 6 enters the lowerportion of the reservoirand a further arm 8 communicates with a ring of nozzles 10 which arearranged above the reservoir which is open at the top.

For the spray liquor to be finely dispersed over the plants it isexpedient for the suction tube or tubes 2 to 4 to be connected with aninjector nozzle 11. By injector nozzle we mean a nozzle which isprovided with a compressed air supply line 14 and in which, with the aidof the compressed air, the liquid is atomized. More liquid isautomatically supplied to the nozzle during atomization. By spray liquorwe mean a solution or dispersion containing a chemical compound in wateror an organic solvent. The spray liquor may additionally containconventional wetting agents, dispersing agents, emulsifiers,solubilizers or antifoam agents.

By automatic suction we mean that the spray liquor is sucked up duringoperation of the injector nozzzle in the amount necessary for achievinguniform distribution of the liquor. The reservoir and its contents areat atmospheric pressure. The contents of the reservoir are sucked upthrough the suction tube or tubes by the injector nozzle and aretherefore not forced there by superatmospheric pressure.

As large amounts of liquid have to be disposed off when the apparatusaccording to the invention is cleaned, it is expedient for an outlet 9at the bottom of the reservoir and the nozzle 11 to be the lines fordisposal of the flushing agent. This ensures that not only the reservoirbut also the suction tubes 2 to 4, thelines leading to the injectornozzle and the nozzle itself are flushed. I

If there is more than one suction tube it is advantageous for magneticvalves 12 to be located between the suction tubes 2 to 4 and the nozzle11 so that the various tubes may be switched on and off.

It is also possible during the spraying operation to allow water oranother liquid to. flow continuously into the reservoir in order toachieve continuous dilution (logarithmic spraying) of the spray liquor(reduction in active ingredient concentration in the liquor).

The apparatus according to the invention may be used as stationaryequipment, e. g., in a greenhouse, or as mobile equipment, e. g.,mounted on a vehicle such as a tractor or hitch. In the case of mobileequipment, a windshield suitable for protecting the plots to be sprayedmay be easily attached. Whatever method is employed, the plants aresprayed quickly, accurately and substantially automatically.

It the apparatus according to the invention is used as stationaryequipment, the plants are advantageously sprayed in a spray cabinet 15.The mist and vapors formed may be removed or suctioned off either upwardby means of a ventilator or preferably downwards, when the cabinet isopened.

Downward removal and dilution of the mist and vapors can be simplyeffected for example by producing, below the cabinet, a vortex afterspraying is over and shortly before the cabinet is opened by means 16.The mist and vapors, together with the water, may be introduced into thesewer system, if desired after passing through a filter to hold backsolids or injurious vapors. To introduce the vapors more quickly intothe sewer system a ventilator may be provided.

This vortex may be produced for instance by rotating water jets 18 or byfixed nozzzles arranged tangentially round a funnel-shaped opening.

The determining factor for the amount of liquor to be sprayed peroperation is the height difference between the fixed overflow 5 and thebottom of the tube or tubes 2 to 4 in the liquor. The deeper the tubesare immersed in the liquor, the more liquor is used for each sprayingoperation, as each operation is only finished when no more liquorreaches injector nozzle 1]. When a number of sprayings have to becarried out with only one spray liquor, the operating cycle comprisingfilling the liquor into the reservoir, automatic adjustment of the upperliquid level, suction of the liquor until only air is sucked up,completion of spraying, and renewing filling of liquor into thereservoir enables rapid and accurate work to be carried out with veryfew possibilities of error and which can be easily automated.

Summarizing, the following operations may for example be employed:

l. Spraying of plants with one spray liquor.

The plants (pots) are placed in the cabinet 16, the cabinet is closed,the liquor is filled into the reservoir, the plants are sprayed until nomore liquor is drawn up by the injector nozzle, the agitator in thereservoir is switched on, mist and vapors are removed from the cabinet,the cabinet is opened, the plants (pots) in the cabinet are changed, thecabinet is closed, liquor is filled into the reservoir, if desired adifferent amount of liquor is set by the rack-and-pinion drive 13 ormagnetic valve 12, and spraying is carried out again.

2. Spraying of plants with different spray liquors.

All steps as under 1 up to the opening of the cabinet. Then: the plantsare removed from the cabinet, the empty cabinet is closed, thereservoir, injector nozzle, and the lines to the nozzle and cabinet areflushed, the flushing agent being sprayed into the cabinet through .theinjector nozzle and, if desired, through other nozzles l9, flushing isfinished, air is blown into the reservoir, mist and vapors are removedfrom the cabinet, the cabinet is opened and plants (pots) are placed inthe cabinet. The remaining steps are as described under I.

3. Spraying of different plants with different amounts of the same sprayliquor.

The steps are as described under I. The spray liquor is drawn up throughthe suction tube at the shallowest immersion depth. The liquor is thenstirred with the air stirrer, a switch is made to the suction tube atthe medium immersion depth, different plants are sprayed with the secondamount of liquor, the liquor is again stirred, a second switch is madeto the suction tube immersed most deeply, and different plants aresprayed with the third amount of liquor.

No claim is made to those portions of the disclosure and drawings whichare outside the scope of the claims.

The following examples demonstrate the results obtainable with theapparatus according to the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Agent I ll Plant typical regulator typical regulator actionregulator action Contact typical contact effect contact effect withherbicide Soil herbicide regulator action withering effect from leafperiphery inward, together with slight contact action and regulatoraction withering effect from leaf periphery inward EXAMPLE 2 substanceswere sprayed by one person with the apparatus according to the invention(1) and, for comparison, by one person with conventional equipment (II).A time comparison showed that the spraying operation and the cleaning ofthe apparatus in the case of I took far less time than spraying in thecase of II, no account being taken of the time involved in cleaning theapparatus here.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for spraying plants with a liquid which is sucked up ina predetermined amount and is atomized by means of an air stream, saidapparatus having a liquid reservoir equipped with a plurality of suctiontubes extending into said reservoir, the lower ends of respective tubesbeing at different levels in said reservoir, and a fixed overflow insaid reservoir at a level above the lower ends of said tubes.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus is equippedwith lines for the supply and removal of flushing agent.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reservoir is equippedwith air injection agitation means.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein one arm of the flushingagent supply line enters the lower portion of the reservoir and anotherarm communicates with a ring of nozzles arranged above the reservoir,said reservoir being open at the top.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the suction tubes areconnected with an injector nozzle.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein'the lines for removal ofthe flushing agent are an outlet located in the bottom of the reservoirand said tubes connected to an injector nozzle.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein magnetic valves areprovided between the respective suction tubes arrangement and theinjector nozzle.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim I wherein the apparatus is used inconjunction with a spray cabinet.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim I wherein the apparatus is used inconjunction with a vehicle.

i i I PO-ww UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION IPatent 6.749-[611 Dated July 51, 197

Inventor(s) Adolf. Fischer It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said .Letters Patent arev herebycorrected as shown below:

' First page, left-hand column, fourth line, insert [73] Assigneez'Badische Anilin & Soda-Fabrik Aktiengesellschaft, Ludwigshafen/Rhein,

Germany Y v Signed and sealed this 27th day of November 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.PLETCHIER,JR. RENE. D. TBGTMEYER Attesting Officer 1 ActingComiss i'oner'of Patents

1. An apparatus for spraying plants with a liquid which is sucked up ina predetermined amount and is atomized by means of an air stream, saidapparatus having a liquid reservoir equipped with a plurality of suctiontubes extending into said reservoir, the lower ends of respective tubesbeing at different levels in said reservoir, and a fixed overflow insaid reservoir at a level above the lower ends of said tubes.
 2. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus is equipped withlines for the supply and removal of flushing agent.
 3. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the reservoir is equipped with air injectionagitation means.
 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein one armof the flushing agent supply line enters the lower portion of thereservoir and another arm communicates with a ring of nozzles arrangedabove the reservoir, said reservoir being open at the top.
 5. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the suction tubes are connectedwith an injector nozzle.
 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 whereinthe lines for removal of the flushing agent are an outlet located in thebottom of the reservoir and said tubes connected to an injector nozzle.7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein magnetic valves areprovided between the respective suction tubes arrangement and theinjector nozzle.
 8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein theapparatus is used in conjunction with a spray cabinet.
 9. An apparatusas claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus is used in conjunction witha vehicle.